Yes, home births are legally permissible in Turkey under strict conditions, governed by the Ministry of Health’s 2023 Regulation on Birth Services. While not outright banned, compliance with hospital transfer protocols and midwife certification is mandatory. Regional health directorates enforce these rules, with penalties for non-compliance including fines up to ₺50,000 (2026 adjusted rates). Home births remain niche, accounting for <0.1% of deliveries nationally.
Key Regulations for Home Births in Turkey
- Certified Midwife Requirement: Only midwives with Home Birth Authorization from provincial health directorates may attend births. Uncertified attendants face criminal liability under the Turkish Penal Code (Article 89).
- Mandatory Transfer Agreements: Midwives must secure written agreements with nearby hospitals for emergency C-sections or neonatal ICU access. Violations trigger immediate license suspension (2024 Health Ministry circular).
- Risk Assessment Protocols: High-risk pregnancies (e.g., breech, preeclampsia) are prohibited from home births. Midwives must document low-risk status via Prenatal Risk Screening Forms filed with district health units.
Non-compliance risks extend to parents: Unauthorized home births without midwife oversight may be classified as medical neglect, triggering child protection investigations under the Family Protection Law (2022 amendments). The 2026 draft Birth Services Regulation further tightens midwife-to-patient ratios, limiting home births to urban centers with <50 km hospital access.